“You will hear a voice say, ‘This is the way.'” Isaiah 30:21 NLT
“God’s voice will always bring you to Him and point you to truth.”
My thoughts today are about “hearing voices.”
If you hear anyone say they are hearing voices when no one is there, you would think them a bit strange. But don’t we all ‘hear voices’ in some ways? People refer to the voice of reason or the voice of one’s own conscience – the inaudible voices of one’s thoughts and ideas.
Consider the scary voice of one’s fears. It is insistent, thrives in the dark, not easily ignored, and leaves anxiety and alarm behind. Fear thrives, not in truth but in shadowy suggestions of, “what if?” Fear doesn’t play fair. Left unchecked, fears magnify becoming more and more paralyzing – making projections often without a basis of reality. You’ve heard fear’s vague prediction, “Something bad is going to happen.”
Or consider the quizzical voice of doubt. Doubt sows those nagging seeds of uncertainty – raising questions without answers. Doubt builds its case by bringing into question even things you thought you were sure about. Doubt leaves questions where you could have answers, slowly eroding your assurance and confidence. Read 2 Corinthians 5:3-5.
Surely, you have heard the hoarse whisper of the voice of temptation. Take courage. Jesus has gone before you to give you His victory. “(Jesus) has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 NIV. Temptation is not a sin, unless you entertain and indulge the desire until yielding to it. See James 1:12-14 NIV. There is good news, however. Read Hebrews 2:18/1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT.
But let’s talk about the one voice that can overcome and silence every voice that would confuse and misdirect you – the voice of God! In the confusion of voices begging for your attention, God’s voice is the one that you can always trust, and is always true. God will speak to your mind from His Word, if you will give Him sufficient opportunity. Time with the Bible trains you to hear and recognize His voice, and to value His wisdom and truth.
God will speak to your heart by His Spirit, if you keep your heart pure and open before the Lord. The Holy Spirit was given to communicate the heart and will of God to you. Romans 8:26-28 NLT. Learn to listen. I don’t know much that is any more important than that. “When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” See John 16:13-15 NIV.
God will speak into your life through Godly voices, not always the voice you would want, nor expect. Be aware; God is not speaking through someone because they tell you that He is, but when God tells you that He is! 1 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV. Availability of God’s voice is never the issue; receptivity is! Matthew 13:3-9/18-23 NLT.
“When (the Good Shepherd) brings out His own sheep . . they follow Him because they know His voice. But they will not follow a stranger. They will run away because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:4. When you are not sure of the origin of the voice, consider where it would lead you. God’s voice, however He chooses to speak, will always bring you to Him and Truth.
My prayer for you is to for you to know God’s voice and follow Him only.